Enhanced Recovery Program in Older Patients Undergoing Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (ER-SCT): First Year Outcomes

Background Older patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) have inferior outcomes. They have limited physiological reserves, which makes them more susceptible to toxic effects of conditioning regimens. Supportive care directed at maintaining and augmenting their limited functional reserve may reduce non-relapse mortality (NRM). We studied impact of a multidisciplinary supportive care and prehabilitation program (ER-SCT) and compared one-year NRM with a historical control group. Methods Between 1/1/15 and 9/30/18, 204 patients ≥ 65 years old underwent allogeneic SCT at our institution. ER-SCT program started on 10/1/17 and 57 of 64(89%) eligible patients participated during the first year. All 64 patients were included in the ER-SCT cohort, while patients treated between 1/1/15-9/30/17 were in the control group. ER-SCT program consisted of a prehabilitation phase prior to admission. Patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a geriatrician, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, physical therapist, occupation therapist, dietician, nurse, and a pharmacist specializing in SCT. Preexisting chronic conditions were optimized and recommendations were made for nutrition, exercise, and coping strategies. During hospitalization, fluid usage and medication choice / doses were optimized for older patients to prevent side effects such as fluid overload and delirium. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and nutrition counselling was continued. The team continued to follow and intervene as needed after discharge from the hospital. Results Median age was 68 (65-79) with 36 (18%) patients >than 70 years. Diagnoses included AML 96 (47%), MDS 57(28%), MPD 26 (13%), ALL 8(4%), and other 17 (8%). 103 (51%) had high or very high disease risk index (DRI). HCT-CI score was >3 in 80 (39%). Donor types included 127 (62%) matched unrelated, 57(28%) matched related and 20(10%) haploidentical. The NRM at 1 year was 13% in ER-SCT cohort vs 26% (p=0.03) in the control cohort. Multivariate analysis adjusting for GVHD prophylaxis and conditioning regimen, age, DRI, HCT-CI, donor type and graft source showed that ER-SCT HR=0.4 (0.2-0.9, P=0.02), comorbidity score Conclusion Although the data from this retrospective sequential cohort analysis cannot be conclusive, they do suggest that a multidisciplinary supportive care program (ER-SCT) may reduce NRM in older patients undergoing allogeneic SCT.